Couples plan creative, inexpensive Valentine’s Day

Monday

Feb 11, 2013 at 1:58 PM

A new study revealed that most people are turning to “heart and homemade” gifts for their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

Kris JohnsonStaff Writer

A new study revealed that most people are turning to “heart and homemade” gifts for their loved ones this Valentine’s Day. About 37 percent of the consumers polled said they planned to make something or come up with a creative idea for the holiday. About 28 percent said they’ll get “something classic like flowers,” while only 23 percent said they have plans for “something extravagant like jewelry or a trip.” The least amount of people, about 12 percent, said they’ll give “something cool,” like an electronic tablet or e-reader. The poll was administered by offers.com, an Austin, Texas-based company that offers coupons for more than 5,500 online stores and brands in more than 200 categories including travel, software, clothing, shoes and more.Houma resident Vickie Bollinger, 59, and her husband, Mark, will celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day. “There is no gift greater than the gift of love we have for each other,” Vickie said, adding that their tradition is to view their wedding album and “reminisce about our wonderful wedding day. “We do this every year,” she added. “Even if we go out of town, we bring the wedding pictures with us.” Houma resident Renee Johnson-LeCompte, 51, said she and her husband’s tradition includes a “romantic, delicious, candlelight dinner” at a local restaurant, “complete indulgence and a no cellphone policy.” But Samantha Potter, 26, of Houma and husband, Jonah, fit into the study’s “something extravagant” category. The couple will spend the designated day for love in a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee. Other locals are just happy to spend time with their significant others, they said, especially those whose spouses work jobs that require them to be away from each other for extended periods of time.“My husband is my gift,” said 20-year-old Houma native Devin Brascia Saults of her husband, Nick, who’s in the U.S. Navy. “I’m so lucky that he gets to be home and isn’t deployed.”Morgan Theriot-Arceneaux’s husband is an offshore worker who works 20 days on the job and 10 days off. “I’m not a gift person,” she said. “I like to just be able to spend time with my hubby. This is the first time he’s been home for Valentine’s Day in a while.” But many locals’ plans seem to coincide with the study, as several area residents say they have creative, inexpensive ideas for romancing their guys and gals. Danny Gray, 40, of Choctaw, said he’s looking forward to dinner with his wife in a quiet setting over candle light with soft music playing, “surrounded by a garden of roses under the star lit skies.” “Items don’t carry meaning,” he said. “Heartfelt words and your actions do.”

Staff Writer Kris Johnson can be reached at 857-2207 or kris.johnson@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @krisLjo.